Tuesday, August 15th, 2017

State OKs funds for pedestrian bridge

By Ed Gebert
ST. MARYS - City council members on Monday learned the city had received state funding for a pedestrian bridge on State Route 66 over U.S. 33 for students walking to the high/middle school campus.
Council president Jim Harris read the notification letter at council's regular meeting.
"The Ohio Department of Transportation is pleased to inform you that the U.S. 33 Pedestrian Bridge project has been selected for funding through the Transportation Alternative Program," he read.
The state will provide $2.375 million for the project. The city will be responsible for the remaining $1.5 million. Construction is slated for the state's fiscal year 2021.
Members agreed the notification was good news for the community. Officials had applied for a similar grant in 2016 but did not receive the funding.
In other action, members voted to transfer the title of the empty Siferd Hossellman building at 302 E. Spring St. to the Community Improvement Corp. for its potential sale. Michael Burkholder, manager of industrial and community development, said a potential deal for the building has been reached. The property's transfer to the CIC was the required first step toward the sale. The resolution transferring ownership was passed unanimously by members on an emergency basis.
Safety service director Greg Foxhoven updated members on flooding issues brought up by residents at the July 24 meeting. Jeff Thompson, superintendent of the sewer and water departments, made some housecalls to the affected areas.
"He actually went to homes, and some folks stopped down at our office," Foxhoven said, adding they are helping those they can, but some, depending on their situation, cannot receive city assistance.
Council's streets and sidewalks committee has a meeting scheduled on the topic at 5:15 p.m. Monday.
In other action, members,
• heard a request for pool hours longer than 4-6 p.m. on the weekends but were told the city does not have enough staff for additional hours with school activities beginning.
• were told a dog swim was being planned at the pool either on or after Labor Day.
• heard no complaints on the proposed transfer of a liquor license from R & R Takhar Operations to SM Jackson Mart, 601 Jackson St.
Additional online stories on this date
Legal travel to some areas questioned
CELINA - City council members may revisit a multi-use vehicle policy that took effect just a few days ago after having learned some residents in and around the Eaglebrook Subdivision can't legally access restaurants and businesses by golf cart. [More]
NEW BREMEN - A person was transported to Joint Township District Memorial Hospital with serious injuries after a head-on collision this morning between a car and an all-terrain vehicle on Lock 2 Road east of State Route 66. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
CELINA - Law enforcement K-9s showed fairgoers Monday afternoon how they help keep Mercer County safe.
Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Wynk and K-9 Franko and Celina police officer Gabe Bartlett and K-9 Ping explained the dogs' duties to the more than 30 audience members.
NEW BREMEN - Council members on Monday appointed Jacob Larger to fill the remaining two years of outgoing member John Schwartz's four-year term.
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CELINA - Police chief Tom Wale on Monday night said he and assistant chief Dan Harting were responding to a report of a traffic violation in the Eaglebrook Subdivision last month, not conducting a sting to catch people illegally driving golf carts.
CELINA - Some Mercer County Head Start students will see a longer school year starting this month.
County Head Start coordinator Amy Esser told Celina City Schools board members at Monday's meeting that two Head Start classrooms will expand their school day and calendar.
GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP - A 27-year-old Indiana man suffered incapacitating injuries on Monday morning after he rolled his vehicle.
Joshua A. Baker, 2
ST. HENRY - School board members at Monday's meeting honored six students for obtaining their Eagle Scout awards over the summer.
The six students - Alex Huelskamp, Devin Huelskamp, Greg Howe, Matthew Mescher, Nathan Steinlage and Shawn Clune - detailed the projects they made to earn this honor.
NEW BREMEN - School district officials on Monday learned the district has been given an A-1 bond rating, meaning it qualifies for a better interest rate, for the recently approved 7.46-mill levy to construct a new $20 million K-8 building.
MARIA STEIN - The level of Marion Local's renewal property tax levy set to appear on the Nov. 7 election ballot has been set at 10 mills by county auditor Randy Grapner and would collect just more than $1.2 million annually over five years.
ST HENRY - Village council members on Monday amended an ordinance to allow under-speed vehicles such as golf carts on village streets before giving the proposal a second reading.
NEW BREMEN - The 43rd installment of the Bremenfest has something for the whole family.
Festival president Alan Webster said this year's event wil
CELINA - The Celina girls tennis team opened its season on Monday with a tough 3-2 loss to Bluffton at the Booster Club Tennis Complex at the high school.
Compiled by Colin Foster
Jack Romer fired a 38 to earn medalist honors and Kyle Naumann shot a 40 as St. Henry cruised to a 162-211 victory over Marion Local in the MAC opener for both teams on Monday at the Elks.